Mortar spreader



April 13, 1965 w. HUESTON ETAL 3,173,158

MORTAR SPREADER Filed Jan. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Woodrow Huesfon Roger MG/ldfl 1N VE N TORS April 13, 1965 w. HUESTONETAL 3,178,158

MORTAR SPREADER Filed Jan. 14, 1963 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Woodrow HuesfonRoger M01900 1 N VEN TOR 5 United States Patent 3,178,158 MORTARSPREADER Woodrow Hueston, te. 5, and Roger Malian, 2527 S. Rogers St.,both of Bloomington, ind. Filed Jan. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 251,113 16Claims. (6i. 259-469) This invention relates to manually operated mortardispensing devices and more particularly to portable mortar spreadingequipment by which mortar deposits of predetermined crosssection,length, and spacing may be positioned on selected surface portions of aplurality of aligned building units, such as cinder blocks, concreteblocks and the like.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide adevice of the character indicated wherein mortar may be dispensed on asurface of a plurality of aligned building units so that other buildingunits may be connected thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the characterindicated wherein rotatable agitating and dipensing means are providedin the device to effectuate an easier and quicker flow of the mortarupon the building units.

Another object of this invention is to incorporate therein novel meansfor employing the device upon a building unit surface as the mortar isdispensed thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter indicated wherein the device is adjustably positioned on aframe to vary the angle thereto to aid in the free flow and dispensingof the mortar upon the building unit.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision ofmeans for effectively controlling the amount of mortar which is beingapplied to the building unit, While another feature of the inventionresides in the provision of means for safeguarding against spilling ofmortar by overflow beyond the side edges of the building units.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter indicated wherein the mortar is discharged in strings orribbons on the building unit.

Still another object of this invention resides in its simplicity ofconstruction, efiicient and dependable operation and adaptation toeconomical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accornpanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a left side view of the device forming the subject matter ofthe resent invention and being illustrated in operation upon a pluralityof building units.

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the device forming the subject matter of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 3 is a right side View of the device shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view of the device.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the mortar spreader and illustratingcertain details incorporated therein.

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 6 ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substan tially on line 77 ofFIGURE 6 and illustrating further details of the present invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a mortar spreader which is designated generally by thereference character ill and embodies in its construction a hopper 12.The hopper 12 comprises a bin or receptacle including side walls 14- and16 and front and rear walls 18 and 2d. The side walls 14 and Z6 divergeat their upper portion to form a funnel- 3,178,158 Patented Apr. 13,1955 ice like structure to more readily receive mortar which is dumpedin the hopper. The hopper 12 has also formed integral therewith on itsfront and rear walls, handle means 22 and 24 for manual handling of thehopper such as would be necessary to place the same in position upon thebuilding unit generally designated as 26. The hopper is also formed witha bottom wall 23 to completely form an enclosure for the mortar disposedtherein. Two dispensing apertures of generally V-shape are formed at thebottom of the front wall 18. in alignment with these apertures are apair of V-shaped guide plates 30 and 32 for containing and guiding themortar which is dispensed from the hopper through the V-shapedapertures. "hese guide plates contain the mortar dispensed so that tworibbons or strings of mortar are disposed as shown in FIGURE 1 upon asurface of the building unit which are a predetermined distance apartand of a predetermined thickness. It should be noted that the dimensionsof the hopper or spacing of the apertures may be varied depending on thesize of the building units or blocks upon which mortar is to be spread.

The hopper 12 is pivotally mounted upon a suitable frame generallydesignated by the numeral 34 which is adapted to ride upon oppositefaces of the building units or blocks. The frame 34 comprises two sideplates 36 and 38, which are connected at one end by an angle iron braceThe side plates 36 and 38 serve as guide means for movement of thehopper along the surface of the building unit and the distance betweenthem is slightly greater than the distance between the two outersurfaces or faces of the building units so that the guide platesoverhang the lateral extent thereof. Suitably journalled between theside plates are two sets of roller elements 42 and 44. These rollerelements are disposed so that they lie above the bottom edges 45 and 48of the side plates. This construction enables the side plates tooverhang the outer surfaces of the building units as described so thatthey may be used as a guide track while the rollers are disposed on thetop surface of the building elements as more clearly shown in FIGURE 1.The rollers and the frame and hopper which is connected thereto aretherefore adapted to ride on a surface of the building units and theside plates serve as suitable guidet racks.

The frame 34 further comprises a suitable horizontal bracing element 50bridging the side plates 36 and 38. The hopper 12 is pivotally attachedto the frame by means of a hinge 52 attached to the bottom wall 28 andcross brace 50 by any suitable means such as welding. The rear supportfor the hopper comprises a shaft 54 welded to the rear wall 20 of thehopper which is adapted to cooperate with two upstanding slotted plates56 and 58 suitably journalled for rotation in the side plates 38 and 36respectively. The shaft 54 is disposed within slots 60 cut in the plates56 and 58 and open at one end and is adapted to be frictionally retainedin adjusted position in the slot by means of a suitable fastener such asa wing nut 62 disposed on threaded portions at both ends of the shaft54. It should now be readily apparent that the hopper may be rotatedabout hinge 52 and by means of the slotted connection in the slottedplates 56 and 58 maintained in a suitably adjusted position and inclinedso that mortar may freely flow from the hopper. It should be noted thatthe slotted plates 56 and 58 will also pivot on the plates 36 and 38 andmay be held in adjusted position by thumb screws or the like 63.

Also mounted upon the frame 34 and in more particular upon the'plates 36and 38 and extending vertically therefrom are a pair of members 64 and66. The members 64 and 66 restrict the mortar flow from the hopper tothe top of the building units and prevents possible escape of the mortarover the side of the guide plates 36 and 38 onto the side of thebuilding units 26. This is necessary as the hopper and V-shaped guides3t) and 32 are inclined to the vertical leaving a free space adjacentthe hopper underneath the guide plates 38 and 32 from which mortar mayooze to either side of the plates and 32. Corresponding members 68 and79 are disposed adjacent the other side of the V-shaped guides 34 and 32and are attached to the cross brace to serve the purpose of preventingthe mortar from escaping to the middle portion of the building unit orblock which is usually hollow. It should now be readily appreciated thatthe plates or members 66, 68, 64 and 7t) suitably contain the mortar sothat two ribbons or streams are formed on the top surface of thebuilding units or blocks.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 the novelagitating and dispensing means of the mortar spreading device aredepicted. More particularly, two shafts 72 and 74 are suitably journaledin bushings 76 attached to the side walls 14 and 16 of the hopper 12.The shafts 72 and 74 extend the width of the hopper. At one end of theshaft 74 a suitable crank handle 7 8 is formed as an extension thereoffor the purpose hereinafter described. Mounted upon shaft 74 and rigidtherewith is a suitable agitating means generally designated by thenumeral 80 and is formed by three laterally spaced plates 82 bridgedtogether by portions 84. The agitating means 89 is attached to the shaft74 by suitably spaced fasteners 86. It should now be readily apparent byturning the crank handle and rotating shaft 74 the agitating means 853will churn the mortar disposed in the hopper keeping it at its properconsistency and preventing it from setting. Disposed forwardly of theagitating means and mounted upon the shaft 72 by suitable fasteners 83is the novel dispensing means or impelling means 90 of the presentinvention. The impelling means comprises a plate having two platesections 92 and 94 connected by a bridging chamber 96. One edge of eachof the plates 92 and 94 is inclined oppositely as shown at 98 and 100.This particular shape of the plates 92 and 94 allows the impelling ordispensing means to more readily push the mortar out the V-shapedapertures coacting with the guide plates 39 and 32 as any excess mortarwill readily slide off the sloping portions 98 and 100 of the plates 92and )4. The agitating means and impelling or dispensing means areconnected to rotate in unison so that upon turning of the crank handle'78 not only will the mortar be churned or agitated but will bedispensed through the aforesaid openings. In this respect, the shafts 74and 72 have extensions at the other side of the hopper from the crankhandle which protrude beyond the side wall 14 of the hopper. Theseextensions 102 and 104 have sprocket members 106 and 108 fixed theretoto rotate in unison with the shafts. A suitable flexible endless chain110 connects the sprockets 106 and 108 so that upon rotation of theshaft 74 sprocket 196 will rotate causing the sprocket 168 to rotatethereby rotating shaft 72 and the impelling or dispensing means 90.

It should also be evident that the drive arrangement just described isalso utilized to move the hopper and frame on the top of the buildingunit as the mortar is dispensed. For this purpose the shaft mountingrollers 44 are provided with an extension upon which a sprocket 112 ismounted. The flexible endless chain is disposed in mating contact withthe teeth of sprocket 112 so that upon rotation of the shaft 74 by thehandle 78 not only will shaft 72 be caused to turn but rollers 44 willalso be caused to turn and the mortar spreading device will be caused tomove in unison with the dispensing of the mortar. A suitable chain guard114 is mounted upon the hopper and a tensioning member 116 is suitablypivotally mounted upon the side plate or rail 33. The tensioning member116 has a sprocket element 118 journalled thereon and upon pivotalmovement of the tensioning member the tension in the flexible endlesschain 110 can be varied.

The operation of the mortar spreading device should now be readilyapparent. By simply rotating the crank handle 78 in a counterclockwisedirection mortar will be churned which has been disposed in the hopper12 and dispensed by plates 92 and 94 through openings in the front wallof the hopper and guided by plates 30 and 32, 64, 68, 66 and '70.Furthermore, the mortar spreader will be moved on the building unitsupon which the mortar is being spread as the mortar is being dispensed.The hopper may be adjusted to any suitable angle with respect to thevertical so that a ready flow of mortar will be accomplished. Sideplates 36 and 38 act as rails upon the building blocks or units andcooperate with the sides of the building units to guide the movement ofthe mortar spreading device upon the building units.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the rinciples of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the inven tion asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, frame means pivotally mountingthe hopper for adjustment about a horizontal axis, agitating means forchurning the mortar disposed within the hopper between the side walls,dispensing means adjacent one end wall of the hopper and operativelyconnected to the agitating means for dispensing the mortar from thehopper through said one end wall as the mortar is being churned, andwheel means mounted upon said frame means and providing rollingengagement of the mortar dispensing device with a surface of thebuilding unit, said wheel means being operatively connected to theagitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuation of the latter,and guide means disposed adjacent the dispensing means for guidingdispensed mortar into a stream and preventing overflow therefrom,wherein said agitating means comprising a plurality of spacedinterconnected plates fixed to a shaft journalled in the side walls ofthe hopper and a crank handle extending from one end of said shaftwhereby rotation of the crank handle will cause rotation of the shaftand plates thereby agitating mortar disposed within the hopper.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means comprises ashaft journalled in the side walls of the hopper parallel to the shaftof the agitating means, and drive means connecting the shaft of thedispensing means with the shaft of the agitating means for rotating theshaft of the dispensing means upon rotation of said crank handle.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said dispensing means furtherincludes a pair of interconnected plates having sloping edges, saidplates being fixed to the shaft of the dispensing means for rotationtherewith.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a pair ofdownwardly opening members fixed to the hopper and overlying a pair ofopenings in the one end wall of the hopper adjacent the dispensingmeans, a first pair of plate members formed integral with the framemeans disposed adjacent one side of said downwardly opening members anda second pair of plate members formed integral with the frame means anddisposed adjacent another side of said downwardly opening members.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the hopper is pivotally mounted onthe frame means by hinge means interconnecting the bottom of the hopperwith the frame means adjacent one end wall of the hopper, a shaft fixedto the other end wall of the hopper and slidably positioned in memberspivotally connected to the frame means.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said drive means connects the wheelmeans to the shaft of the agitating means for rotating the wheel meansupon rotation of said crank handle.

7. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and sp rse a bottom, frame means mounting thehopper, agitating means for churning the mortar disposed within thehopper between the side walls, dispensing means adjacent one end wall ofthe hopper and operatively connected to the agitating means fordispensing the mortar from the hopper through said one end wall as themortar is being churned, and wheel means mounted upon said frame meansand providing rolling engagement of the mortar dispensing device with asurface of the build-ing unit, said wheel means being operativelyconnected to the agitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuationof the latter, said agitating means comprising a plurality of spacedinterconnected plates fixed to a shaft journalled in the side Walls ofthe hopper and a crank handle extending from one end of said shaftwhereby rotation of the crank handle will cause rotation of the shaftand plates thereby agitating mortar disposed within the hopper.

8. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, frame means mounting thehopper, agitating means for churning the mortar disposed within thehopper between the side walls, dispensing means adjacent one end wall ofthe hopper and operatively connected to the agitating means fordispensing the mortar from the hopper through said one end wall as themortar is being churned, wheel means mounted upon said frame means andproviding rolling engagement of the mortar dispensing device with asurface of the building unit, said wheel means being operativelyconnected to the agitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuationof the latter, and guide means disposed adjacent the dispensing meansfor guiding dispensed mortar into a stream and preventing'overflowtherefrom, said guide means including a pair of downwardly openingmembers fixed to the hopper and overlying a pair of openings in the oneend wall of the hopper adjacent the dispensing means, a first pair ofplate members formed integral with the frame means disposed adjacent oneside of said downwardly opening members and a second pair of platemembers formed integral with the frame means and disposed adjacentanother side of said downwardly opening members.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said agitating means, dispensingmeans and wheel means are all operatively connected by drive meanscomprising chain and sprocket means associated with each of saidagitating, dispensing and wheel means and actuating means for said drivemeans associated with the agitating means whereby upon actuation of saiddrive means the agitating means, the dispensing means and Wheel meanswill operate simultaneously.

10. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom frame means pivotally mountingthe hopper for adjustment about a horizontal axis, agitating means forchurning the mortar disposed within the hopper between the side walls,dispensing means adjacent one end wall of the hopper and operativelyconnected to the agitating means for dispensing the mortar from thehopper through said one end Wall as the mortar is being churned, andwheel means mounted upon said frame means and providing rollingengagement of the mortar dispensing device with a surface of thebuilding unit, said wheel means being operatively connected to theagitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuation of the latter,said agitating means comprising a plurality of spaced interconnectedplates fixed to a shaft journalled on the side walls of the hopper and acrank handle extending from one end of said shaft whereby rotation ofthe crank handle will cause rotation of the shaft and plates therebyagitating mortar disposed within the hopper.

11. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, frame means pivotally mountingthe hopper for adjustment about a horizontal axis, agitating means forchurning the mortar disposed within the hopper between the side walls,dispensing means adjacent one end wall of the hopper and operativelyconnected to the agitating means for dispensing the mortar from thehopper 'thr'ough said one end wall as the mortar is being churned, andwheel means mounted upon said frame means and providing rollingengagement of the mortar dispensing device with a surface of thebuilding unit, said wheel means being operatively connected to theagitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuation of the latter,and guide means disposed adjacent the dispensing means for guidingdispensed mortar into a stream and preventing overfiow therefrom, saidguide means including a pair of downwardly opening members fixed to thehopper and overlying a pair of openings in the one end wall of thehopper adjacent the dispensing means, a first pair of plate membersformed integral with the frame means disposed adjacent one side of saiddownwardly opening members and a second pair of plate members formedintegral with the frame means and disposed adjacent another side of saiddownwardly opening members.

12. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding unit or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, frame means mounting thehopper, agitating means for churning the mortar disposed within thehopper between the side walls, dispensing means adjacent one end wall ofthe hopper and operatively connected to the agitating means fordispensing the mortar from the hopper through said one end Wall as themortar is being churned, and wheel means mounted upon said frame meansand providing rolling engagement of the mortar dispensing device with asurface of the building unit, said wheel means being operativelyconnected to the agitating and dispensing means to rotate upon actuationof the latter, said frame means comprising a pair of guide rails formounting said mortar dispensing device upon a building unit, said wheelmeans being journaled in said guide rails, and said guide railsextending below said wheel means.

13. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing mortar upon abuilding or the like comprising a hopper including a pair of side walls,a pair of end walls and a bottom, frame means mounting the hopper,agitating means for churning the mortar disposed within the hopperbetween the side walls, dispensing means adjacent one end wall of thehopper for dispensing the mortar from the hopper through said one endwall as the mortar is being churned, and wheel means mounted upon saidframe means and providing rolling engagement of the mortar dispensingdevice with a surface of the building unit, said agitating meanscomprising a plurality of spaced interconnected plates fixed to a shaftjournaled in the side walls of the hopper and a crank handle extendingfrom one end of said shaft whereby rotation of the crank handlle willcause rotation of the shaft and plates thereby agitating mortar disposedwithin the hopper.

14. The structure of claim 13 including guide means disposed adjacentthe dispensing means for guiding dispensed mortar into a stream andpreventing overflow therefrom, said guide means including a pair ofdownwardly opening members fixed to the hopper and overlying a pair ofopenings in the one end wall of the hopper adjacent the dispensingmeans, a first pair of plate members disposed adjacent one side of saiddownwardly opening members, and a second pair of plate members disposedadjacent the other side of the downwardly opening members.

15. A portable mortar dispensing device for depositing hopper,dispensing means mounted in the hopper for dispensing the mortar fromthe hopper through the holes, and wheel means mounted upon the framemeans for providing rolling engagement of the mortar dispensing devicewith a surface of the building unit, said agitating means comprising aplurality of spaced interconnected plates fixed to a shaft journaled inthe opposing side walls of the hopper and a crank handle extending fromone end of said shaft whereby rotation of the crank handle will causerotation of the shaft and plates thereby agitating mortar disposedwithin the hopper.

16. The structure of claim 15 wherein said dispensing means comprises ashaft journaled in opposing side walls of the hopper and a pair of flatplates fixed to said shaft, said fiat plates having wide outer ends andtapering gradually from the wider outer ends to narrow portions at thepoint of engagement with the shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,833,582. 11/31Kavanagh 222-176 2,341,691 2/44 Ciceske 222-176 2,522,693 9/50 Stiteler222177 2,533,386 12/50 Masters 25941 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A PORTABLE MORTAR DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DEPOSITING MORTAR UPON ABUILDING UNIT OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOPPER INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDEWALLS, A PAIR OF END WALLS AND A BOTTOM, FRAME MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTINGTHE HOPPER FOR ADJUSTMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AGITATING MEANS FORCHURNING THE MORTAR DISPOSED WITHIN THE HOPPER BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS,DISPENSING MEANS ADJACENT ONE END WALL OF THE HOPPER AND OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO THE AGITATING MEANS FOR DISPENSING THE MORTAR FROM THEHOPPER THROUGH SAID ONE END WALL AS THE MORTAR IS BEING CHURNED ANDWHEEL MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME MEANS AND PROVIDING ROLLINGENGAGEMENT OF THE MORTAR DISPENSING DEVICE WITH A SURFACE OF THEBUILDING UNIT, SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THEAGITATING AND DISPENSING MEANS TO ROTATE UPON ACTUATION OF THE LATTER,AND GUIDE MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE DISPENSING MEANS FOR GUIDINGDISPENSED MORTAR INTO A STREAM AND PREVENTING OVERFLOW THEREFROM,WHEREIN SAID AGITATING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACEDINTERCONNECTED PLATES FIXED TO A SHAFT JOURNALLED IN THE SIDE WALLS OFTHE HOPPER AND CRANK HANDLE EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF SAID SHAFT WHEREBYROTATION OF THE CRANK HANDLE WILL CAUSE ROTATION OF THE SHAFT AND PLATESTHEREBY AGITATING MORTAR DISPOSED WITHIN THE HOPPER.